The Stance of Shari'ah regarding Religious Innovations

One should know that the second Testimony of Faith, 'Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah', requires the person to obey him, and believe in what he has informed us about and to stay away from that which he has forbidden. It also requires that a person worship Allah in the allowed and sanctioned manner, not in a way he desires or wishes. It is a must upon the person to reject every religious innovation. Allah says: (Let those who oppose the Messenger's (Muhammad) commandment (among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant, etc.) befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.) (24:63)

The Prophet said: 'He who innovates a thing in our Deen, it shall be rejected.' (Bukhari #2550)

Hudhaifah b. al-Yamaan, with whom Allah is pleased, said: 'People were asking the Messenger of Allah about goodness and good things, and I was asking him about evil, for the fear that I would witness such things. I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, we in the past were living in ignorance, and Allah guided us with this goodness, so will there be evil after this goodness?' He said: 'yes', I said: 'Is there goodness after that evil?' He said: 'yes, with some trials and tribulations.' I said: 'What sort of trials and tribulations?' He said: 'People who follow other than my Sunnah, and guidance, you will be familiar with some of the practices which they practice, and you will be unfamiliar with some others.' I asked him, 'Is there any evil after that goodness?' He said: 'yes, callers to the gates of Hell-Fire, whoever answers them would be thrown in.' I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, what should I do, if I witness this?' He said: 'Stick to the general assembly of Muslims and their Imam.' I said: 'What should I do if there is no general assembly of Muslims, nor is there any Imam?' He said: 'Forsake all the parties and groups, even if you hang on to a branch of a tree until death overcomes you.' (Bukhari #3411)

Abdullah b. Masood, with whom Allah is pleased, said that the Messenger of Allah said: 'I will be the first near the Hawdh , and people will be brought forth and they will be prevented from drinking, and I would say: 'My Rubb, my Companions!' It would be said: 'You do not know what they did after you.' (Bukhari #6205)

Abdullah b. Abbas, with whom Allah is pleased, said that the Messenger of Allah said: 'Allah will not accept the deeds of a man of Bid'ah until he abandons the Bid'ah he practices.' (Ibn Majah #50)

The Prophet has informed us that there would be great Fitan (trials and tribulations) that would occur after him. The way a person would safeguard himself from these Fitan is by adhering to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger. A person would not safeguard himself by innovating matters in the Deen! Ali, with whom Allah is pleased, said that the Prophet said: 'There will be Fitnah.' I said: 'How can one safeguard himself from it?' He said: 'The Book of Allah contains the stories of those before you, and news of future happenings, and how people should judge among themselves, and it is the criterion; any ruler that casts it aside, Allah would humble him and break his pride. Whoever seeks guidance from other than it, Allah would lead him astray, and it is the firm 'rope' of Allah, and it is the decisive reminder, and the Straight Path. One would not be lead astray by his whims when following it, nor would its recitation bring up any doubts, its wonders cease not to exist, the scholars do not have enough of it; it caused the Jinn to ponder and ask: (Indeed we have heard an amazing Qur'an, which calls to the guidance.) Whoever speaks it would have spoken the truth, and whoever acts upon it, would receive a reward, and whoever rules by it, would have observed justice, and whoever calls to it, would be guided to the Straight Path.' (Tirmidthi #2906)

Statements of Scholars who condemned Bid'ah practices

Umar b. al-Khat'taab, with whom Allah is pleased, said: 'Beware of people who stick to their opinions (and disregard textual proofs) for they are the enemies of the Sunnah; they could not learn, memorize and understand the Hadeeth, so they stuck to their opinions, and lead themselves and others astray.' ...

Proofs used by some to support their devious practices

1st Proof:
Some who have little knowledge in Shari'ah claim that the words of the Prophet:
من سن في الإسلام سنة حسنة فله أجرها وأجر من عمل بها بعده من غير أن ينقص من أجورهم شيء، ومن سن في الإسلام سنة سيئة كان عليه وزرها ووزر من عمل بها من بعده من غير أن ينقص من أوزارهم شيء
Meaning: Whoever revives a good Sunnah in Islam, he would receive its reward and the reward of those who practice it; while the rewards of those who practice it would not be lessened. Whoever innovates a practice in Islam, he would receive its sin and the sin of those who practice it, while the sins of those who practice it would not be lessened.' (Muslim #1017)

Our Stance from People of Bid'ah

Allah, the Exalted, says: (Say (O Muhammad) to these idolaters: follow what has been sent down unto you from your Rubb, and follow not any Auliya' (protectors and helpers, etc.) besides Him.) (7:3) ...